Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back

Gerard gave no hesitation to walk inside. I followed behind him and walked in an organized home. There were stacks of records on the floor but that was it. The white carpet floor was completely clean. He motioned Gerard and I to sit on the couch. I sat next to Gerard whose eyes were staring up at Mikey.
Mikey asked, "Do you guys want coffee?"
Gerard nodded.
I said, "Sure."
Mikey looked at me and nodded, "Give me a sec." He walked away into the kitchen leaving Gerard and I alone. Gerard whispered to me, "Thanks-for earlier."
In response, I smiled at him. His hazel eyes shone a bit as I felt his hand rest on my leg. He added, "I really want you to know that if things get out of hand while we're talking to him, we can leave. We can go anywhere now. We're free." Gerard gave a large smile, showing off his tiny teeth.
"Here,"
Gerard's hand retreated as Mikey handed us both a mug of coffee. He then walked around the coffee table to the other couch, facing us. He sat down and said, "First thing is first-how did you get out? I don't care about your friend here-" He looks at me but then back at Gerard, "But how did you manage to leave, Gerard? I may sound like a complete asshole for asking, but until you tell me, I'm not going to let it go." His eyes stared at Gerard.
Gerard looked away and muttered, "We escaped."
Mikey gave no reaction to his response. I thought that maybe he didn't hear Gerard, but he said, "You escaped?"
Gerard placed his coffee on the table, "I was miserable...but then," Gerard looked at me, "I met Frankie." He smiled, "Frankie was and is my only friend. I thought at first he was a come and go, but he stayed. And we've been through so much together. Mikey," He looked back at his brother, "I know we've been through bad things. But I was traumatized-I was older so I remember most of it. You were young, you got lucky." He looked at me, "Frankie, I never got the chance to thank you-"
"Enough." Mikey stood up, "Gerard, I shouldn't let you stay here-"
I stood up abruptly, "What? You're going to turn us in-"
"Let. Me. Finish." He said, "But I'm going to." He smiled.
Gerard cheered, "Yay! This is great-wait, Frankie has to stay too."
Mikey frowned, "There are only two rooms."
Gerard shrugged, "I can share my room. Besides," He grinned, "Frankie is special."
Mikey raised a brow, "Well, okay. Down the hall, first door on your left."
Gerard grabbed my hand and reeled me down the hall. He stopped in front of the bedroom and opened it with one hand. It was actually really nice. There was a shelf full of small records, a small TV at the end of the bed, and a record player.
"Ohmygod! Comics!" Gerard rushed after the box full of comic books as if he was a murderer running after his next victim. He sat on the bed and placed the box next to him. He scanned through the comic books with a large grin on his face. I smiled at the cute scene. I walked over to the bed and sat close to him. I rested my chin on his shoulder, "You like comic books?"
"Like them doesn't even begin to describe it. I read them all the time growing up...I never got to finish any because my parents always pulled me away to make a "movie"." He frowned.
I kissed his neck softly and grabbed a comic book from the box. I laid it out on his lap, "Now you can."
Something about the way he smiled got me weak in my knees. This wasn't the smile of a sarcastic, crazed, traumatized man. This was the smile of a lost, broken, sweet man. I felt his hand touch mine, but that was it. He read the comic of The Dare Devil and did the "POW" effects with so much emotion.
I wish this was all there is. I wish this could be the way we could live. Normally, peacefully. But there is always that voice in my head that never sleeps.

Notes